St Helens Borough Council has given the go-ahead to plans for the £54m global glass research and innovation facility at Saints Retail Park
The planning application was prepared and submitted by developer and landowner Network Space, on behalf of not-for-profit research and technology organisation Glass Futures, to build the 160,000 sq ft Global Centre of Excellence.
The global glass research and innovation facility will be used to deliver industry and Government-backed R&D projects focused on decarbonising glass production.
It will also provide a platform for industry to test and trial their own commercial ideas on a state-of-the-art line, both collaboratively and individually.
Bowmer + Kirkland has been appointed to build the facility following an open procurement process through the North West Construction Hub.
The project delivery is led by Network Space on behalf of an innovative partnership created between Glass Futures, the global glass supply chain, Network Space, St Helens MBC, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and UKRI (UK Research and Innovation).
‘Achieving zero carbon glass’
Catherine Chilvers, development director at Network Space, said: “We are delighted to have successfully secured planning permission for such a high profile and transformational project for St Helens and the Liverpool City Region.
“The consent is another major milestone in transforming the former United Glassworks site into a global hub for research whilst once more positioning St Helens at the forefront of glass innovation and sustainable glass manufacturing.
“Our team and the partnership that we have formed has worked tirelessly in bringing the concept to life and converting it into a deliverable scheme. We hope to announce further progress in the coming months.’’
Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, commented: “I’m committed to reshaping our economy after Covid so that it is cleaner, greener, stronger, and designed around the needs of local people.
“We’ve invested £9m to help bring Glass Futures to life to help deliver that radical change.
“Glass Futures has the potential to put our region at the forefront of the Green Industrial Revolution and make us a global leader in new technology.
“When complete, this project will help take St Helens proud history in glass making and bring it into the 21st century, creating lots of local jobs and drastically cutting carbon emissions.”
In addition to creating 80 new permanent jobs, the project will lead to much-needed apprenticeships, training and general up-skilling within the glass and similar industrial sectors.
Glass Futures’ chief executive, Richard Katz, added: “Today’s decision is fantastic news. It enables the delivery of a test-bed facility to develop processes to make glass the most sustainable and recyclable material solution available.
“The research, innovations and energy efficiencies we deliver here can be shared and harnessed by all glass applications including packaging, glazing and glass fibre, as well as across other foundation industries.
“The Global Centre of Excellence will enable us to work collaboratively with our members, the supply chain and academia to achieve zero carbon glass.”
Work is expected to begin on site in July this year and will complete by December 2022.
